| Due to the prevalence of the green movement, | | | | rewards: Silver Certification (50-59 points), Gold |
| most companies have at least a moderate interest in | | | | Certification (60-79 points) and Platinum Certification |
| retrofitting their older operating systems to make | | | | (80-110 points). |
| them more environmentally friendly, especially when | | | | Ultimately, leed certification's greatest rewards come |
| they discover the long-term cost savings that can | | | | from implementing the energy efficient construction |
| result from making their buildings energy efficient. | | | | that results in the certification. For example, large |
| However, for companies that are on the fence, the | | | | companies that make their HVAC and interior lighting |
| fact that retrofitting their HVAC and lighting systems, | | | | systems energy efficient and implement solar panels |
| for example, represents an "unnecessary" expense | | | | to lessen energy consumption commonly experience |
| often keeps them from "going green". If this | | | | a six-figure reduction in their yearly power costs. In |
| describes your company, you might be interested to | | | | addition, energy efficient buildings have better real |
| know that, as revealed by studies of companies that | | | | estate value than traditional buildings. If you decide to |
| have LEED Certification, making your building energy | | | | put your building on the market, you'll have an easier |
| efficient can bring advantages in addition to slashing | | | | time selling it when potential buyers learn how much |
| your annual energy bills. | | | | money they'll be saving in energy costs. |
| LEED-an acronym for Leadership in Energy and | | | | Another benefit of achieving leed certification is that |
| Environmental Design-is an internationally recognized | | | | energy efficient work atmospheres increase |
| certification system developed by the United States | | | | productivity. Research shows that employees who |
| Green Building Council (USGBC) to evaluate buildings' | | | | work in offices and facilities that have improved air |
| environmental performance and encourage the | | | | quality and increased natural lighting have a lower rate |
| adoption of sustainable design. Unlike some | | | | of absenteeism, retain their jobs longer and work |
| sustainable design campaigns that focus on appealing | | | | more effectively. Because most companies' greatest |
| to our humanity, leed certification focuses on | | | | expense is employee salaries, the employee related |
| transforming the building industry toward sustainable | | | | benefits of energy efficient construction actually |
| design and results in tangible benefits, such as tax | | | | contribute to companies' profits. |
| credits for participating companies. | | | | The best way to achieve leed certification is to work |
| LEED Certification is granted based on the number of | | | | with an energy-efficient consultant to develop energy |
| overall "points" that a building acquires across five | | | | solutions that fit your company's atmosphere and |
| main areas of design: sustainable sites, energy and | | | | operating procedures. Once implemented, the |
| atmosphere, materials and resources and innovation | | | | solutions will offer your company three indispensable |
| and design process. The minimum number of points | | | | benefits: a dramatic reduction in power cost, and |
| required for certification is 40. But there are also | | | | dramatic increase in productivity and, last but not |
| higher levels of certification that can result in higher | | | | least, a friendlier stance toward the environment. |